On February 14, 2018 Nikolas Cruz killed 17 and injured another 17 others at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Highschool in Parkland Florida. The is one of 288 school shootings in the U.S.
In 2019 alone, the U.S has endured 28 school shootings resulting in 8 deaths and 40 injured. The U.S. leads the world in school shootings by an astounding margin. The other top ten countries following the U.S. are Mexico with 8; South Africa 6; India 5; Pakistan and Nigeria each with 4; Afghanistan 3; Canada, France, and Brazil each with 2.
School is fast approaching and so is the renewing of apprehension for parents who are sending their kids off to what could be the frontline. After the Parkland shooting the sales for bulletproof backpacks have spiked. If you are considering buying a bulletproof backpack for yourself or your child there are things you should know first:
· Bulletproof backpacks only protect against handguns or low capacity rifles. Mass shooters prefer high powered rifles making bulletproof backpacks less useful. The material used to make bulletproof backpacks is a Kevlar like material which is categorized as a “level 3A” material, which is the minimal you’d want for a bulletproof backpack according to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). This is considered a soft body armor and is lightweight. Ballistic-resistant hard plates would be too heavy to wear. Especially for small children.
· Bulletproof backpacks can be expensive. Bulletproof backpacks range from $200-$500. Bullet-resistant inserts are available from around $00which slide into a regular backpack. Buying multiple inserts will not increase protection.
· Bulletproof backpacks don’t last forever. Even when taking the utmost care of your bulletproof backpack there is an expiration on them of about five years. This applies if you are careful not to leave it in the sun or heat and not leaving it in a car. If it gets damaged, it will need to get replaced immediately. Thy cannot be repaired. Never buy a used armored backpack.
What will your bulletproof backpack protect you from?
The ratings of bulletproof armor by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).
· Level 1 is the lowest possible NIJ safety rating and is virtually never seen anymore, except on used body armor which isn’t recommend to be bought in the first place. Level 1 is mostly just a remnant of the early days of bulletproof technology.
· A Level 2-A NIJ safety rating means that body armor will stop 9mm and .40 Smith & Wesson with a full metal jacket (FMJ).
· Level 2 body armor is a step up from Level 2-A, and is also able to defend against .357 magnum.
· Level III-A indicates that body armor is adequate to protect against just about all handgun rounds. (.357 SIG and .40 magnum, in addition to 9mm, .40 S&W FMJ, and .357 magnum)
· Level III rated body armor offers protection against 7.62 x 39mm FMJ and .223 Remington rounds. The 7.62 x 39mm FMJ and .223 Remington are the rounds of choice for AK and AR rifles respectively.
· Level IV is the highest level and offers protection against armor piercing rounds.
You can find bulletproof backpacks and armor panels at all three of the higher NIJ safety levels, however armor panels are easier to find than bulletproof backpacks at Level III and Level IV.
Masada-Armour, an Israeli company has created a backpack that becomes a bulletproof vest and offers full chest and back protection to students. This vest is said to be able to protect against semi-automatic rifles. The bulletproof backpack weighs between 6 and 11 pounds and costs between $500 and $750 depending if you want the standard or upgraded version. The armored panel which can be deployed in two seconds can be removed to become a bulletproof vest. The weight of the backpack would make it impractical for young students and could cause serious back issues for many others.
Don’t allow yourself have a false sense of security.
You shouldn’t have a false sense of security because you have a bulletproof backpack. Your arms, legs, head and the entire front of the body is still unprotected. Backpack armor should be used as a temporary protection while you find cover. They will be of no use if kept in a locker and should be carried with your child throughout the day.
Demonstrate to your child how to use their bulletproof backpack in case of an emergency. As with all protective devices, it is essential to practice using them until you are confident you have mastered it.
Instruct your children to not broadcast the fact they have a bulletproof backpack. In emergency situations people become desperate and may attempt to take it.
Please share this article with your friends, family and community so we can keep our children safe.
Sources: http://money.com/money/5175526/bulletproof-backpacks/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoneman_Douglas_High_School_shooting
https://www.jerusalemonline.com/watch-israeli-company-designs-bulletproof-backpack/
https://www.nij.gov/topics/technology/body-armor/Pages/testing.aspx
https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/21/us/school-shooting-us-versus-world-trnd/index.html